Comments on: Rumor: New Sony Clie SJ33 with mp3 Audio

Peace,
-Bartman007

The super-stamina battery sounds good -- hmm, overall it looks like quite a nice unit!

- Dan

I wonder if Sony is moving to a color-only lineup this year...

Geez, I've written that so many times my fingers are getting tired! :-)

"it's better to be a pirate than join the navy." - Steve Jobs

NZ90
SJ22
SJ33
T665 replacement

Actually my bet is that Sony will beat Palm. Probably $399.

"it's better to be a pirate than join the navy." - Steve Jobs

16M ram (15M useful)
Virtual Graffiti area
66 Mhz CPU
MP3
Palm OS 4.1.2
$400

NZ90
SJ22
SJ33
T665 replacement"

The end of February? Hmm.....isn't that when PALM usually releases new handhelds? Uh-oh...

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)

Even though the Motorola MX1 ARM processor was the first one certified as "PalmOS Ready", we haven't seen the MX1 in a PalmOS product yet. The MX1 (plus a larger ROM) could be a drop in processor replacement in any of the current PalmOS units; and it looks to only cost a few bucks more than a 68k Dragonball. What would that be? An m525? Or ???

http://www.clieuk.co.uk/index.shtml

Here is some candy for the Sony lovers ;)

I think it was pretty smart to keep both OS4 and OS5 devices around... that way they support both ends of the market- those who want the speed, video, games, etc, they get OS5, for those that want organizer features, get OS4. (currently all os5 devices are highend)- palms still making the transition.

This thing is going to be tough selling it against the iPaq 1910, but this will probably be around 200 bucks.

otherwise for more than $250 it's going to be a slow sell.

Yes, LOTS of room. LOTS and LOTS...

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)

And that anyone who would jump to the PPC was an idiot.

And that you guys who all sit all day drooling over Sony's are pathetic.

And like that.....I miss that. This place seems so dull since I.M. left.

I dont see ANY justification in buying this device.

"Now thats just PRIME!"

Ooh! That hurt! ;-)

Yeah, well this is a sore spot with me. Dell really hit the PDA market like a wrecking back, knocking over price expectations. Before the low-cost PPCs arrived, a $299 Sony Clie with built-in MP3 would have been an absolute BARGAIN! Now....it doesn't look all that competitive any longer. :-(

"it's better to be a pirate than join the navy." - Steve Jobs

I dont see ANY justification in buying this device."

Well, I would almost agree with you...except that the Dell handhelds run PPC. I can't wait until they make PDA's with the Palm OS...

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)

Keep in mind that although pictures of the SJ33 have been leaked, the specs and price are still unconfirmed. The rumored specs sound right though.

- Dan

http://www.clieuk.co.uk/index.shtml

http://www.dougplanet.com/TX75-v01.html

I'm sure Sony will not be too impressed.

Cheers!!

Even had to look that one up.

Too bad they're still using that proprietary Mem Stick thing eh?

;-)

[note, I would have said something more intelligent, but until something new is written about PPC v. Palm devices, the only logical answer to gibberish is more of the same]

Lets see you do a comparison with probably the best PDA EVER, the Dell Axim. Good Tech support, cheap, good programs on the PPC side, good base, good websites, more ebooks for PPC, better screen (with lower res. of course :( ) etc.

"Now thats just PRIME!"

Let me make an example.

Why the Dell Axim is a horrid POS:
-Form factor is totally unacceptable.
-No bluetooth built in.
-Nav button is teetering on always breaking.
-No software I use runs on the PPC platform.
-No cradle for the cheaper version.
-It's a Dell, which means it's very possibly an overpriced (even at the low price level) and underpowered piece of machinery with crappy support, proprietary design, and 'dell attitude' inside.

Why the Dell Axim is the best:
-Very cheap for what you get.
-Replaceable battery.
-Decent screen.

If you read closely, you'll realize that the pros and cons come from totally different perspectives. One needs a PDA that's small and compact with built in connectivity options who's company relies mostly on PalmOS and internally built programs (me). The other needs a PDA that will last long and doesn't cost a lot (my roommate).

My roommate would find the Tungsten utterly useless (he has no BT devices, he uses no PalmOS progs, and he is gone for long periods of time without access to a charger), and I would find the Axim pointless without at least a BT card and a PalmOS emulator (not even feasible anymore with the recent in house built programs with OS5 hooks).

Don't be such fanboys. Buy what fits your needs, and get off the PALM SUXXORS! and/or PPC IS FOR L0S3RS! bandwagons. Do you all really need to justify your purchases THAT badly?

I am not comparing a Palm with a PPC, i am a Palm user also and know they are different thing. I am just wondering why PPC at $299, could offer you a high-end HW, but palm can't. Is it the license fee of Palm OS is expensive? Or on the other hand, shouldn't they lower the price to make it more reasonable?

Dell is a well-off computer company. Dell doesn't really need to make millions of dollars off of their new handhelds. They just want to corner the PDA market like they've been doing with desktops and laptops. So they release these handhelds at the lowest price possible, even though they don't get a whole lot of profit.

Palm, however, isn't doing to well financially. Also, they ONLY makes handhelds. They can't afford to be releasing handhelds at dirt cheap prices, or else they'd be bankrupt...which isn't too far off from where they are now...but still...

If (or when) Dell starts making handhelds with the Palm OS, it's going to be interesting to see what's Palm going to do. Could you imagine a Palm OS PDA with a color screen at around $100-$150? Wowee!

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)

Because the m130 is currently outselling the HP 1910 in many markets, including on Amazon, and with probably a nicer profit margin. That proves the harware specs alone (MHz, etc.) aren't needed to sell well.

If you want a cheap unit, don't rush; 200+ MHz OS 5.2 Palm's will probably be under $75 on eBay if you just wait a couple years.

Did you sign off as *Stupid!* ?

On a similar note, I spoke with an even higher ranking Palm official who said that they're going to buy Sony because it's not worth to have them license the OS...something about licensing politic.

There were 10 new Clies in 2002, so it wouldn't be too surprising to see a similar number this year.

I do find one thing curious about what you were told though. Because of the "Special Edition" T665C and SJ30 that were released, it seems likely that Sony doesn't necessarily do a single production run on every model...

... but regardless, it's hard to imagine - you'd think that they would need incredibly accurate sales estimates for each model for that scenario to work!

Cheers,

Dan

Not really. If the replacement model is already about to go into production (pre-planned obsolescence), Sony can just fine tune the release date of the next model in the series, depending on the actual sales rate of the current models. That's the advantage of having an R&D department capable of working several product generations into the future. Whatever handheld you buy, be prepared for the fact that it's probably already obsolete (compared to what's in advanced R&D) even before the rumors about its announcement have just started leaking.

Heh, but I'm still mulling over how critical it is for these companies to have accurate sales forecasts...

If they do buy SONY, there goes diversity.

If that happens, I'm gonna make an offer to buy the 49ers.

e740 and T|T

Wait until the SJ33 specs come out, and then argue over price.

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)

Other people have other needs/preferences/budgets and get other devices. There's certainly no shortage of choices

A look at www.palmevolution.com shows it pretty clearly ;)

It'll be interesting to see what Palm counters with in the $200 - $300 class.

It might (MIGHT) be worth it if BT was included, but apparently they're having trouble with BT radio signals and GPS markers interfering with each other. And it would have to be priced below the Tungsten.

"...Grafitti II later this year on a upcoming device running Palm OS 5.1.2."

>>
Anyone know what this device may be like... or when we'll be seeing it? Could influence my purchasing of a Tungsten|T.

Yes, but I can't disclose any details. I will say that it's a significant upgrade... good enough to change my upgrade plans completely. Already thinking about what to do with my beloved M515.
<<

If it was the size fo a TT, however...

NOw everyone have fun and wish for another new Sony product. My guess is that by late April that the sj33 will be on its way out of the door for another.

It's also typical Sony propaganda - for some reason, consumers seem to think Sony products are high end, when in reality, 90% of the time (especially in audio!) they are strictly middle of the line. It's all about shelf space and mind share. Sony knows how to wield those two like no one's business.

--
PDA Stephen Ô¿Ô¬